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LETTER: Establishment — the new dirty word in politics?

12/16/2011

Dear Editor,

The word establishment has taken on a new meaning. People are now accused of being establishment, as though it is evil, the word itself is whispered in the dark hallways of established grass roots organizations and other establishments, GOP headquarters all across the country. This new evil applied to a word piqued my curiosity, so I looked it up just as I would any dirty word.

According to Webster the definition is: 1. Bring into existence. 2. Business or a place of Business. 3. An establishing or being established. 4. Controlling group.

The Republican Party was established in 1854 by a group of anti-slavery activists. In 1860 they established a place of business, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington D.C. when President Lincoln as a member of this establishment was elected to office. The Republican Party was established in order to control, another word for organize, a movement against slavery. I have to ask myself, what was evil about this or the outcome? Does that mean that anyone who is a member of an established party, evil? If it is evil why would anyone become a member of any establishment even the newly formed grass roots establishments?

Or does your definition of establishment equate to the length of time that our GOP candidates were representatives or governors? Keep in mind that I am not implying that I agree with the philosophy that career politicians make bad politicians.

Rick Perry — first elected to the House of Representatives in Texas in 1984 where he served 3 two-year terms and was elected Lieutenant governor in 1988, was elected governor in 2000 and is the longest running governor of Texas at 10+ years. That equals 27 years as a political servant.

Ron Paul — congressman from Texas, totals 12 two-year terms: first from 1976-1977, after he won a special election, then from 1979-1985 and finally from 1997 to today. That equals 24 years as a public servant.
Newt Gingrich served the 6th congressional district in Georgia as a congressman starting in 1979 and ending in 1999. That equals 20 years as a public servant.

Rick Santorum served as senator from the state of Pennsylvania from 1994 to 2006. That equals 12 years as a public servant.

Michele Bachmann served as a state senator for the state of Minnesota from 2000-2006. In 2006 she was elected to the United States congress and remains a congressional representative for the state of Minnesota. That equals 12 years as a public servant.

Jon Huntsman elected governor of Utah in 2004, re-elected in 2008 but resigned Aug 11, 2009 to become a diplomat to the Republic of China under President Obama. That equals eight years as a public servant.

Mitt Romney elected governor of Massachusetts from 2002 to 2006. That equals four years as a public servant. Yet, Mitt Romney has been branded with the evil word of being the establishment candidate, when he used to be the darling of conservatives in 2008. What happened, you ask? Obamacare and the other dirty word, mandate, but did you know that it is mandated that we wear clothes in public or be arrested for indecent exposure? Personally, I like this mandate as I would not want my grandchildren exposed to the horrific sight of a bunch of middle aged, sagging, overweight bodies parading down our public streets in their birthday suits. As my grandfather, an artist who painted live nude models used to say, “everyone looks better with their clothes on.” I concur.

And — is it alright for you Constitutional purists and liberty lovers to allow those freedom loving Wall Street protestors to step all over my liberty by not purchasing their own health care plan while I and others get to pay for theirs’ with higher health care costs, higher insurance premiums and higher taxes? Is that your idea of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Is it your idea to stand on your principles, while you are standing on my toes and taking money out of my wallet to pay for someone else’s irresponsibility? I think not.

Critical thought is a good thing for all conservatives, we need to apply it or risk sounding like the Wall Street protestors de-crying the evils of corporations while they are using their corporate made computers, talking on their corporate made cell phones, wearing corporate made clothing and eating corporate made food.